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Keizer council directs staff to draft ordinance allowing car washes and quick-lube services in Keizer Station
Summary
After a staff report and no public testimony, the council voted unanimously (one absent) Dec. 1 to direct staff to prepare an ordinance and findings to amend Keizer’s development code (Appendix A §2.11) to allow “automotive services except repair” in Keizer Station—opening the door to uses such as car washes and quick-lube businesses.
Keizer — The Keizer City Council voted Dec. 1 to direct staff to prepare an ordinance that would amend the city’s development code to allow a category of automotive services in the Keizer Station area, a change staff said would accommodate businesses such as car washes and quick-lube oil-change operations.
Planning Director Shane Witham told the council the proposed text amendment, Case 2025‑17, adds one use to Appendix A, Section 2.11 of the Keizer Development Code. Witham said the change was prompted by a new letter of intent from a prospective user, identified in staff materials as “Happy’s Car Wash and Oil Stop,” and that the revision is narrower than earlier drafts that considered several auto-oriented uses.
“Technically it’s one additional use,” Witham said, describing the change as a targeted addition the Planning Commission and staff judged appropriate for the Keizer Station area. Lindsay King, the Planning Commission liaison, told council the commission reviewed the amendment, discussed impacts such as noise and traffic, and recommended allowing this specific category while excluding more intensive automotive uses.
Council President Starr moved to direct staff to prepare an ordinance and findings for adoption; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously, with one member absent. The action sends the proposed text amendment back to staff for draft ordinance language and findings that will return to council for a future adoption vote.
The public hearing on the item had no speakers signed up; Witham told council the August 4 ordinance that allowed drive‑through restaurants in Area B was part of the background for the current request. If council adopts a later ordinance, the code change would formally permit the newly defined automotive service use in the specified area.
Next steps: staff will draft ordinance language and findings and present them at a future council meeting for formal consideration and adoption.
